Coin display device



United States Patent M 3,028,949 COIN DISPLAY DEVICE John J. Sohosky, P.O. Box 1124, Joplin, Mo. Filed Oct. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 692,633 4 Claims. (Cl. 206.83)

This invention relates to a device for holding and displaying numismatical coins and medals.

It is a primary object of the present invention to pro vide an improved coin holding device that is attractive and that protects coins and the like stored therein.

Another object is to provide an improved coin holding device which includes a transparent case adapted to enclose a coin or set of coins and yet expose the same to view, said case substantially sealing out moisture and dust, yet being easily opened to provide access to the coins.

Still another object is to provide an improved coin holding device of the foregoing character is which coins can be easily and quickly mounted.

A further object is to provide novel coin retainer or holder means adapted to support one or more coins or medals in fixed display condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a preferred form of the invention showing a case having coin retainer means mounted therein, a portion of the case being broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coin holder or retainer of the character shown mounted in the-case in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a persepective view of a form of the invention adapted to hold but a single coin or medal and including one coin retainer of the character shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another form of coin retainer adapted to hold a set of coins and which can be used in conjunction with a case such as is shown in FIG. 1; and r FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

Broadly speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a flat transparent case that exposes its contents to view and at the same time shields the contents and seals out dust, moisture and other harmful elements. The case contains coin retainer means that is adapted to hold one or more coins in display position therein. The coin retainer means is adapted to grip the peripheral edge of a coin or medal mounted therein, holding the same in fixed relation with respect to the retainer means and the retainer means is held in fixed relation in the case.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This form of the inven tion is adapted to contain a plurality of coins, all mounted in display condition. The device comprises a transparent case of plastic material, shown generally at 11, and a plurality of coin retainers 12 mounted in edgewise engagement therein.

The case 11 is made to have superifically the appearance of a solid block or sheet of transparent material having a coin or coins imbedded therein. In construction, the case 11 comprises a pair of matched members comprising a tray 13 and a lid 14, that fit together as shown in FIG. 2. The tray 13 and the lid 14, once fitted together, are thereafter frictionally held together in such a fashion that fasteners for holding them together are unnecessary. The absence of such fasteners enhances the illusion of a solid block of material.

While the case may be of such size as to hold only Patented Apr. 19, 1962 of the tray member 13 and is provided with a substantially. 7 vertical inwardly facing surface 17 that bounds a rectangular space or compartment for receiving the coin retainers. Also, the rim 16 is formed with a flat top surface 18 and an outwardly facing surface 19. The rim 16 on the tray is spaced inwardly somewhat from the peripheral edge 21 of the tray, providing in effect a horizontally extending flange portion 22. The upper surface of the flange portion 22 is tapered downwardly slightly from the rim 16. Likewise, the surface 19 is tapered slightly so that the rim 16 is slightly narrower at its top than its bottom. 1

The lid 14 is a cap-like closure that covers the we tangular space enclosed by the rim 16 and sealingly engages the rim 16. To this end, the lid 14 also has a rim 24 around its periphery. The rim 24 has an inwardly facing surface 26 that is tapered to substantially match the taper of the surface 19. When the members 13 and 14 are put together, the rim 16 is forcibly inserted inside the rim 24, a force fit being provided therebetween. When thus assembled, the surfaces 19 and 26 frictionally engage each other and provide a tight seal around the periphery of the case. Their matching tapers and the force fit cause the rims to grip each other, and this gripping action between the surfaces 19 and 26 is sufficient to hold the lid and the tray together. Thus, the need. for conventional fasteners, such as screws or the like, which would be clearly visible and detract from the appearanceof the case, is eliminated.

When the members are engaged as shown in FIG. 2, the flat top surface 18 of the rim 16 engages the lid inwardly from the rim 24 and the rim 24 overlies the flange portion 22 on the tray. The height of the rim 16 is substantially equal to the thickness of the coin retainer 12 so that therim 16 spaces the lid 14 the proper distance from the tray 13. The slight downward angle of the upper surface of the flange portion 22, heretofore mentioned, is provided so that after the tray and the lid are assembled, a slight crevice or crack exists between the upper surface of flange portion 22 and the edge of the rim 24. The case thus can be easily opened by prying its members apart by inserting a suitable tool in the crevice.

FIG. 3 shows, in perspective, one of the coin or medal retainers or elements 12 with a coin 27 mounted therein. The retainer 12 is a flat rectangular or square frame member which may also be plastic. The thickness of the retainer is, in this instance, slightly greater than the thickness of coin to be mounted therein. In FIG. 1, a plurality of the coin retainers 12 are shown disposed edge-to-edge between opposing portions of the rim 16. The elements 12 are dimensioned so that when they are placed in the compartment as shown their edges will frictionally engage each other and the surface 17 of the rim 16 for their retention in the tray member. In other words the compartment and the retainer means are substantially coextensive. The peripheral edges of each retainer 12 are indented, as at 28, to provide access for removing them from the case 11.

Each of the retainers 12 is adapted to frame a coin and hold it flatwise so that the opposite sides thereof will be visible through the opposite sides of the case 11. To this end, each coin retainer 12 is provided with four inwardly projecting resilient arms 29. The inner ends of the arms 29 are spaced apart and define an inscribed circle of predetermined diameter which in each case is slightly less than the diameter of the coin mounted therein.

The arms 29 extend non-radially relative to the position of the coin and in the instant case are shown as arranged in pairs, the arms in each pair being in alignment and the pairs being parallel with respect to each other. The arms, being resilient, are therefore laterally deflected when a coin is forced into position between them. To improve the gripping action thus provided, the inner end of each of the arms is provided with an arcuate gripping portion 31 for engaging the coin. It must be apparent in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 that the arms 29, including the arcuate gripping portion 31, are formed in a retainer blank by providing a circular center hole 30 and three parallel transversely extending slots 34, 36 and 37. The slot 36 extends across the center of the hole 50 while the slots 34 and 37 extend parallel to the slot 36 at opposite sides of the hole 3!). Thus, the three slots and the hole merge, leaving the four arms 29, as shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and mentioned above, the thickness of the retainer or tray member 12 is somewhat greater than the thickness of the coin mounted therein. Thus, when properly mounted in a retained or frame member 12, a coin will be spaced from the members 13 and 14 and protected from engagement therewith. The arms 29 are spaced apart to afford access to the coin edges so that the coin may be removed when desired. Furthermore, these spaces expose portions of the coin edges to view. As an aid to the mounting of coins in the retainer 12, each arcuate portion 31 of the arms is bevelled, as at 32 in FIG. 6. The bevel serves to guide such coin into position between the portions 31 as the coin is pressed into place.

The external dimensions of the various coin retainers 12 shown in FIG. 1 are substantially the same. Therefore, the order and arrangement of the retainers in the case can be changed at will. The internal dimensions of the retainers 12 vary, however, since they are dictated by the different sizes of coins to be accommodated. Thus, the arms of the retainers shown in the left end of the case in FIG. 1 are spaced farther apart than the corresponding arms of the retainers in the right end thereof. The retainers at the left are, therefore, adapted to hold larger coins than their counterparts at the right. The use of such individual retainers 12 (which may be transparent or of any color) permits great flexibility in the arrangement of a collection.

FIG. 4 shows another form of the invention. In all respects this form is the same as that just described except that only a single coin retainer 12 is encased between a tray 13' and a lid 14'.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second form of coin retainer 33 that may be used in a case of the type shown in FIG. 1. This form of coin retainer is adapted to hold a set of coins. It is a unitary elongated frame structure adapted to hold. in this instance, five coins. An advantage to this form of retainer is that it provides a more rigid mounting than the arrangement of individual retainers 12 shown in FIG. 1. Except as noted, the retainer shown in FIG. 5 embraces the various structural features outlined above in connection with the retainer 12 and, therefore, further description seems unnecessary. The various corresponding structural elements of the instant form have been given the same reference numerals as their counterparts in the FIG. 3 form.

It is thus seen that the instant invention provides a novel and attractive coin holding or display device. The

4 device affords protection for coins mounted therein, such coins being substantially sealed against dust, moisture, and the like, yet exposed to view. The case is such that coins are easily mounted in it and thereafter may be removed therefrom when desired.

Although the invention has been described in connection with certain specific structural embodiments, it is to be understood that certain modifications and alternate structures may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a transparent coin display case having a generally rectangular fiat compartment therein, coin retainer means mounted in said compartment for holding one or more coins in display condition in said case, said retainer means being generally rectangular and substantially co-extensive with said compartment to be generally immobile therein and comprising at least one rectangular frame element, said frame element being a flat sheet having a central opening for receiving a coin therein and a plurality of resilient arms unitary and coplanar with said element and extending inwardly into said opening for releasably gripping the edge of such coin, said arms having their inner ends defining a circle slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the coin to be held thereby, said arms being in non-radial position relative to said circle at their inner ends and tangential to said circle before insertion of the coin and being deflectable laterally thereof and outwardly with respect to said circle and in the plane of said element, whereby said element remains flat upon insertion of such coin.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which said frame has four arms arranged in parallel pairs in non-radial relation to said circle, the arms of each pair being in longitudinal alignment with their ends tangent to said circle when not deflected by a coin.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which each of said arms has its inner end provided with an arcuate surface for engaging such coin, said surfaces lying in said circle, whereby said arms are laterally deflected in the plane of said frame when such coin is forced between said surfaces.

4. The combination according to claim 2, in which the inner end of each of said arms is beveled along said arcuate surface for guiding such coin into position between said edge surfaces as such coin is pressed into position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,046 Locke Feb. 5, 1884 2,318,850 Grant May 11, 1943 2,428,498 McWilliams Oct. 7, 1947 2,521,792 Hollander Sept. 12, 1950 2,606,708 Irvan Aug. 12, 1952 2,683,526 Wheatley July 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,220 Australia Nov. 10, 1933 418,909 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1934 556,235 France July 3, 1923 649,319 Germany Aug. 30, 1937 

